And I recall seeing in a catalog about 20 years ago 2 examples with turned wooden grips (in imitation of wire wrapping but no actual wrapping--grips looked original with patina and very good fit to the hilts) given a date of c. 1775-80. Would these have been for non-coms or junior officers, perhaps?

These are usually 1796''s that have had the foil removed Tom. Instead of a wire wrap some grips had a sheath of silver put over the wooden core and then imbossed with a wire pattern, probably in a press of some sort. Over time the wood shrinks and the silver foil loosens, tears and is removed, leaving the embossed pattern on the wood.
I have seen early ones with ebony grips cut in a spiral however.

I also agree with you David, Spadroons really do seem like a militarized small-sword for those whose sword fighting technique leaned toward a point-centric fencing style. The single edged, rapier-esque blade just gives it a bit more leveradge against any heavier swords it might encounter.Attachment: 63.35 KB, Viewed: 7396 timesAttachment: 48.71 KB, Viewed: 7396 timesinkothemgard!

Understood. But I think one of those I saw might have been an early one with an ebony grip as you have described--the spiral channels were too deep in my opinion to result from a pressed shell. It was beautiful!

Morgan,

Very nice, indeed!

BTW: I just ran across what I thought was an English flank or yoemanary (sorry, is that the correct word?) officer's saber, c. 1800-10. A beautiful sword with an exagerated curved blade and bone or ivory grip (does that indicate anything in particular?) in excellent condition. It was at a generalist antique store. I don 't know enough about these English sabers and was not feeling good about making an offer on it.Tom

That is a nice short saber (that's what I call them--I think I picked it up from Neumann's book.) I really do find the short sabers of the American Revolutionary period fascinating. I do think a robust cuttoe would be servicable as with these short sabers. I think Neumann features a couple short sabers that were even shortened more professionally--apparently the officers were wanting something with a blade around 23 inches. One has a clipped point, so it might be a case of just bringing it up to date with the latest fashion. If we only knew!Tom

Here is a nice french officers soldat. sigh.. Very nice. I am being very disciplined and not puchasing anything right now, even though I wassorely tempted. It went for a great price too. Ah well, we can view it here. The elongated rectangular knuckle guard makes me think it is early first half of the 18th cen.Attachment: 33.09 KB, Viewed: 6992 timesAttachment: 46.76 KB, Viewed: 6992 timesAttachment: 53.76 KB, Viewed: 6992 timesAttachment: 63.56 KB, Viewed: 6992 timesAttachment: 63.56 KB, Viewed: 6992 timesAttachment: 31.92 KB, Viewed: 6992 timesinkothemgard!

Harvey Withers described it as "An early 1700's Chinese Falchion sword", so it isn't just you. And it is pretty much a Chinese falchion.

(Could call it a "messer", too. "Messer" is a literal translation of "dao", even.)"In addition to being efficient, all pole arms were quite nice to look at." - Cherney Berg, A hideous history of weapons, Collier 1963.

This is my first post, coincidentally of my first historic sword which I acquired last summer. My grandfather's neighbor was willing to part with it for $500 despite it supposedly being in his family since the War of 1812. If that was the case, someone down his ancestry decided to take a file towards the end of the blade for weed eating purposes. Any thoughts or comments greatly appreciated! (yes this is early 19th century, but others were doing it too!)

I am not sure that this is War of 1812 period--seems as if the etching would place it after that period. There is a tendency to attribute stirrup-hilted sabers to the War of 1812 period, but this style of sword was in service into the Mexican and Civil War periods. Whatever the actual period, it looks lke a nice saber.Tom

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